SOMALIA - Somali Culture and Homosexuality (Somali Gay Community Website):
Homosexuality in Somalian communities is as extensive as in any other
ethnic community, the only difference is that it’s done in private and
secrecy thus not openly visible. Arab and Muslim governments turn a
blind eye to homosexual practices as long as it stays in the dark. But
conspicuous punishments await those who dare to test the limits of the
law. In several occasions when gays came to the open and in case a gay
marriage was conducted, they had to face the shame of the community and
the hand of law. (Bashir Goth)... Gay and Lesbian Somalians who are in
Somalia have no official recognition and live under a constant cloud of
fear, as homosexuality is often punished with lashing, being ostracised
from families and communities and even death! This is not an
exaggeration as many of our brothers and sisters have been made to
suffer inhumane reprimands or killed. Therefore, being Somali and gay
can be difficult. Living secret lives and not sharing your ideas and
feelings with those you have close contact with in life is not an easy
thing. Many flee their homes to escape possible torture or “honour
killings”. Some become accustomed with living double lives. Some are
out to their families, not necessary by choice. Homosexuality is
discussed in Somali households mainly in a negative way. Families tend
to know or suspect their children but the problem arises when the son
or daughter admits to his/her sexuality...

Gay Somalis in London Launch Community Website
(2007): A new website, Somali Gay Community, has been launched to serve
the small gay Somali community in London – and beyond. It is believed
to be the first of its kind in Somali history and culture anywhere in
the world. - Somali gays supporting each other
(2009): Five Somali friends currently living in London recognised a
need for a support network for other gay and lesbian Somalis in the
United Kingdom... The launch of our website was greeted with horror,
disgust and rage, James said. The Somali people around the world did
not want to know that we existed and that homosexuality was not just a
-˜Western social problem’, as they wanted to believe, but a Somali one
too... The website received over 133,000 hits in the first week and
regularly receives over 20,000 hits a day. There is a huge demand for
the service we provide. We currently have 752 registered members. Most
visitors won’t register their details for fear of being found out.
There are also 35 people who regularly attend our monthly support group
and we work with around 20 clients helping them with charities and
service providers, James said. The website receives around 45 messages
a day from users. People tell us the website gave them the opportunity
to find out about the lives of other Somali homosexuals who face
similar hardships in not only accepting one’s sexuality but also
dealing with homophobia. Many thought they were the only Somali gays in
the world.

Death
hangs over Somali queers (2004, Alternate Link):
Faro, is one of the leaders of Queer Somalia, a community based
organisation based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. He makes frequent visits
to Somalia to make contact with small groups of queers there and on a
recent visit he sent back startling information that shows that for gay
and lesbian people in Somalia the issue of death looms large. Whether
through suicide following pressure from families or via loosely applied
Islamic law that is uncontrolled due to the lack of a central
government, their greatest fear is death—a sentence that can be brought
upon them just for being homosexual, or for being perceived to be
homosexual. - Queer somalis talk to new president
(2004): The group's Executive Director, Hadiyo "Boston" Jimcale, said
the new president promised to her that under his government all Somalis
would be safe, over a telephone conversation she had with the president
on Wednesday. She stated that the country's new laws (put in the books
in 2000 by a worldwide recognized temporary national government in
Mogadishu) call for all Somalis to be treated equal under the law,
regardless of their sexualities or religious beliefs..

Somali
lesbians sentenced to death. (2001, Alternate
Link):
A Somali lesbian couple has been sentenced to death by an Islamic court
in Bosaso, the commercial capital of the self-declared autonomous
region of Puntland, northeast Somalia, according to IRIN and other
media. It is the first case of its kind in culturally conservative
Somalia, where homosexuality is prohibited. They were taken to the
Bosaso Islamic court on 19 February, where they said they living
together as "man and wife". The Bosaso court found the two unnamed
women guilty of "exercising unnatural behaviour" and sentenced them to
death by stoning in a verdict difficult to defend even within the
Muslim Shari'a laws. - Somali
'lesbian sentences' denied.
(2001): Police in Puntland have denied a story widely reported in
Somalia that two women were sentenced to death for being lesbians.
According to Mogadishu newspapers, the women were reported to have been
found guilty of "exercising unnatural behaviour" by having a lesbian
relationship. But police in Boosaaso, where the sentence was reported
to have been passed, say the case never came before the courts. .

Soul mates: The price of being gay in Somalia
(2006, Alternate Link): A year after meeting, the boys had "accidental"
sex one night. "We were just playing and it just happened," says
Sakariye. Well, it happened and happened and happened. For another
three years, the boys had sex on a regular basis. In Somalia, where the
couple is from, it is not uncommon for boys to have sex with each
other. What is uncommon, however, that these boys' sexual "experiments"
had gone beyond the age usually expected to stop. At the age of 16 and
17, the boys were still having sex. "After a certain time, I couldn't
imagine living without him." Abdulle says. So, love came and knocked on
their doors.

Human rights and security in central and southern Somalia (2007, PDF Download):
According to this information it is very clear that homosexuality is
not acceptable in Somalia and that it is illegal... if someone
were found guilty of engaging in homosexual acts the consequences would
be death. OXFAM/Novib explained that, according to the sources
homosexuality is so unacceptable and so taboo, that the most likely
scenario would be that any person who is a homosexual or even thought
to be, would be killed... Furthermore OXFAM/Novib explained that the
only known area in Somalia where there is limited acceptability of
homosexuality is in Merka, where a minority clan, more linked to the
Arab community, marginally accepts homosexuality within its community.
This also presupposes that the information about the individual is kept
within the community, because if the other clans in the area were to
find out, the person would suffer the consequences.... Yassin confirmed
that there was a more liberal attitude towards homosexuals in Merka and
that there is a gay/lesbian community in the town. Merka is to be
considered the most liberal community in Somalia... Abdulle confirmed
that homosexuality is taboo in Somalia. However, homosexuality does
exist among Somalis, but it can never be debated in or exposed to the
public domain. Should a homosexual be disclosed or openly admit he or
she is homosexual that person would be killed...

DJIBOUTI - Illiberal Attitudes
(2004): Djibouti gained independence from France in 1977 but unlike
most former French colonies the attitudes of the public and the laws
relating to homosexuality are far from liberal, which may be due to the
influence of Islamic law. Horn of Africa correspondent, Faro interviews
a Djiboutian.:. According to Kasdil (names have been changed) a man
from Djibouti, there are many gay and lesbian people living in the
country but they have little by way of a social life. "We are living
undercover, unconfident and in fear... "Our general situation is very
dangerous because we do not have an association which can represent us
in a legal fight; we don't have much Internet, we don't have any
services for health, education or fun. We look to worldwide
organizations of human rights for helping us." - Djibouti: Situation of homosexuals in Djibouti; treatment by the public
and by the authorities; state protection available (2002-2004)
.-

LGBT rights in Djibouti:
The U.S. Department of State's 2010 Human Rights Report found that
"there were no known reports of societal violence or discrimination
based on sexual orientation. Societal norms did not allow for the
public discussion of homosexuality, and persons did not openly
acknowledge having a homosexual orientation."

ERITREA
- Eritrea: Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor (2006): Homosexuality is illegal, and homosexuals faced severe societal discrimination. - UPR Statement on LGBTI health in Eritrea
(2010): UPR Statement on criminalization of same-sex relationships in
Eritrea and urgent required measures to recognize and protect the
rights of sexual and gender minorities, and extend HIV intervention
programs to include same-sex practicing people. - Homosexuality "against Eritrean values"
(2010): Eritrean government officials for the first time have answered
to rights activists' questions about the country's tough
anti-homosexuality laws. Legalisation was out of question, the official
said. At a recent UN review of the human rights situation in Eritrea,
Rowland Jide Macaulay of the Canadian HIV AIDS Legal Network challenged
the Eritrean government to "repeal all legislative provisions which
criminalise sexual activity between consenting adults of the same sex."
According to the Canadian rights activist, the criminalisation of
consensual homosexual acts was a threat to public health as it
"frustrated creating access to HIV prevention and awareness programmes
for men who had sex with men." Moreover, it was contrary to
international law, human rights and "likely to exacerbate incidents of
harassment, abuse, arbitrary arrests and unlawful detentions.".

Eritrea questioned over anti-gay laws
(2010): At a recent UN review of the human rights situation in Eritrea,
Rowland Jide Macaulay of the Canadian HIV AIDS Legal Network challenged
the Eritrean government to “repeal all legislative provisions which
criminalise sexual activity between consenting adults of the same
sex.”... According to Mr Abraham, the Eritrean government rejected the
demand to legalise same-sex activity between consenting adults, which
was “in direct contradiction with the values and traditions of the
Eritrean people.” Homosexuality is illegal in Eritrea, according to the
1957 penal code, which is an inheritance from colonial times. The penal
code strictly prohibits “sexual deviations,” among which is performing
sexual acts with someone of the same sex. So-called “unnatural carnal
offences” can be punished with imprisonment of between 10 days and 3
years. Little is known about the practical use of this law as the
state-controlled Eritrean press does not report about homosexuality at
all. But according to a report from the British Embassy in Asmara,
people who participate in “such an act are prosecuted and punished
whenever found guilty.” In 2004, authorities reportedly expelled a
number of foreigners from Eritrea on the basis of their sexual
orientation.

Legal but not accepted (2003):
... the Minster of Justice said, "There is no homosexual person in my
country, that's why homosexuality is legal. That means, still we have a
responsibility to defend our people from this kind of cultural
aggression from Europe." BtM: What is the problem facing individual
gays, governmental homophobic behaviour, as well as discrimination? M:
Some of them who I meet are HIV positive, they don't have any awareness
as gays that they should use a condom, they think condoms are only for
heterosexuals. Most of them are in confusion, they don't have interest
to accept who they are. One of my close friends goes to church to get
cured. Another one killed himself a year ago. But, no one, not even his
family knew on what grounds he committed suicide. Only me and other
friends of mine knew... Soon I will do my effort to establish an
Eritrea gay group on the site. It will be a good opportunity to
exchange our experiences and to share our common problems. - 6
men arrested in Asmara. - Eritrea Expels Three Hotel Employees for "Immorality" (2004):
An unnamed source close to the three employees said "one of them at
least was homosexual and did not try to hide it." A diplomat in Asmara,
who asked not to be named, said: "It is the first time such a reason is
put forward, homosexuality is not forbidden by the law, but it is not
accepted by tradition."

Doing things together (2002):
“I love everyone,” Peter tells us for the fourth time. “Especially
Jerry. I love him most of all. I want to marry Jerry.” The laughter
increases, some genuine, some embarrassed. A couple of his friends
frown and try to calm him down. For a while, he does so, but he
continues muttering how much he loves everyone, especially Jerry.
Curious, I leave Ed, promising to return. Peter smiles at me "Enjoying
yourself?" He nods. “Why do you like Jeff?” I ask. “Because we do
things together,” he tells me. I'm tempted to ask more, but we're in
public and it's easier to put two and two together without further
evidence. “We do things together!” he repeats loudly enough for others
to hear and turn. Among them Jerry, now arm in arm with another young
man. Again Jerry's only response is a quiet smile... The next morning,
Peter appears at the near-empty hotel where I am staying. We sit in the
bare hall and exchange pleasantries. I assume he has come to apologise
for the previous evening. Some form of apology is indeed lurking in the
back of his mind, but foremost is the belief that I still have the key
of his car. I describe the friend I gave it to. His face falls; the man
concerned will not be free until the afternoon... As we walk, I begin
my spiel of the importance of condom use, not specifying the sex of the
partner. He confirms that he has a partner and uses a condom. Another
question elicits the pronoun she. Further gentle questioning reveals
that all his partners have been women. A whole hypothesis begins to
falter. It crumbles when Peter asks if I am married. I repeat what I
had said earlier, about living with a man and add “I prefer men.”
He is nonplussed, does not at first believe me. Then the conversation
dies. Where was the faultline? I wonder. How did this misunderstanding
begin? Did I imagine too much, is he telling me too little, surely
Jerry is gay, what is the meaning of Peter's "love", do the embracing
arms only embrace? I want to ask all these questions but remain
silent...